Climbing gantry crane



y 5, 1966 L. R. PARKER ETAL 3,259,250

CLIMBING GANTRY CRANE Filed Nov. 4, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS LISA-IE- fi Hwvb PARKE JOHN gfiKT'y gY R July 5, 1966 R. PARKER ETAL 3,259,250

CLIMBING GANTRY CRANE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1964 INVENTORS Lssus. Rap-1 w K R doc-4N nu- J L. R. PARKER ETAL 3,259,250

CLIMBING GANTRY CRANE July 5, 1966 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 4, 1964 INVENTORS LEtLl: ?hyHoua Pokrne. Jenn! GNU- 4 y 1966 L. R. PARKER ETAL 3,259,250

CLIMBING GANTRY CRANE Filed Nov. 4, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS LESLIE RfiyHoNb FARKEK dorm! GARr JQ.

MMI My.

y 1966 R. PARKER ETAL 3,259,250

CLIMBING GANTRY CRANE Filed Nov. 4, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS LE5: Rhynaua HQRKE'L 'Jmm GA Y JMMJ 777m United States Patent 3,259,250 CLIMBING GANTRY CRANE Leslie Raymond Parker, Sale, England, and John Garty, Jr., Westercroft, Helenshurgh, Scotland, assignors to Anderston Clyde Engineers Limited, Bolton, England Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 408,882 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Nov. 5, 1963,

43,552/ 63; Feb. 12, 1964, 5,868/ 64 12 Claims. (Cl. 212-13) This invention is concerned with a travelling crane of a type which can be self-erecting, that is to say which can be increased in height as a structure or dump or the like with which it is used increases in height, and which can as readily be dismantled when the task to which the crane has been applied is finished.

One particular use for the new crane is in the erection of a heavy-duty transformer for instance at sub-stations in the central electricity supply. The improved crane is intended to be of low level initially, whilst work on the transformer or other object is at or near ground level, and to be increased in height stage by stage as the work increases in height. This has the advantage, among other things that the crame can be used inside a building, up to the maximum height of the building if necessary, without the entrance portals needing to be large enough to accept the crane in its full size.

The invention therefore comprises a crane which is adapted to be erected in situ. The crane includes a cross beam forming a runway for a lifting tackle, a pair of bogies positioned at each end of the cross beam and a plurality of openwork pillar sections adapted to be superimposed one upon another, stage-by-stage, over each of the bogies as required from time to time, to build up end pillars upon which the beam is slidably carried throughout the full vertical extent thereof. The beam and each of said pillar sections includes at least one rack portion on the one part engageable by a cooperating means on the other part to hold the beam in any selected position throughout the length of the pillars. A driving mechanism is carried by the cross beam for driving the cooperating means tomove the beam relative to the pillars. Each pillar includes also a ladder portion whereby an operative may climb up the pillars, always to the top, at whatever height they have reached. Means is provided on the said pillar sections forming continuous guide- Ways for guide rollers mounted at the ends of the beams, these rollers engaging both before and behind such guideways so as to prevent spreading of the pillars away from each other under the weight of the beam, and thereby prevent the falling of the beam.

The beam or beams may include a gantry or catwalk from end to end, and may include also a second runway for a subsidiary lifting tackle and, according to a further feature of the invention the beam or beams may, if desired, incorporate a number of positions for a jib at each of which the jib will be movable about a fixed vertical axis. Such positions may be at one or both ends of the beam or at one or more (usually one) intermediate points in the length of the beam.

Preferably each of the saidpillar sections comprises an open frame of tubular metal having vertical members at the corners adapted at their ends to fit into or on to cooperating corner members of another unit, such vertical members being braced together longitudinally, transversely and diagonally of the unit to provide a triangulated three-dimensional structure. At one side of the structure there is a pair of rack sections, each comprising two vertical plates with cross pins between them constituting rack teeth. The opposite side of the unit, usually on the inside of the unit, carries a ladder section made similarly to the rack sections but with more widely spaced sides or stringers, and more widely-spaced rungs or steps.

3,259,250 1 Patented July 5, 1966 According to a further feature of the invention the said carriages or bogies which support the pillars include transport means whereby they may be supported from the ground or on rails and will include also jack means whereby said transport means may be lifted off the ground to immobilise the structure. The transport means, if operable in one direction only will be detachable from the carriage or bogies whilst so lifted off the ground and attachable in either of two positions at right-angles to each other this making it possible to transport the crane in a longitudinal or transverse direction.

A control platform will be provided on one of the bogies or carriages, with means for controlling the lifting gear provided on the beam, and means for controlling the means for raising and lowering the beam on the pillars as the latter grow or shorten (as the case may be) section by section.

The drive to the lifting and lowering means is preferably through a double worm gear so as to prevent any run back.

The invention envisages a large structure, for example one that from pillar to pillar will be about fifty feet in Width and which, at the full height, might extend fifty feed or thereabouts from the ground.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a crane constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

. FIG. 3 is a cross-section through the transverse beam of the crane and is taken on line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pillar section;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively a front elevation and a plan view of a hoist unit;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the structure and shows a bogie or carriage structure applied thereto;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the carriage structure, the relative disposition of parts corresponding to an operative condition of the arrangement;

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 8 but with th relative disposition of parts corresponding to an inoperative condition; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative form of pillar section.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 4 thereof a self-erecting crane comprises a cross-beam 11, a pair of bogies or carriages 12 arranged one at each end of the said cross-beam, a multiplicity of pillar sections 13 carried from said cross beam and arranged to be superimposed one upon another on the bogies thus to build up end pillars 14 supported on the bogies by which the beam may be carried to the level required, and hoist means 15 arranged to effect the lifting of the beam relative to the pillars.

Each bogie or carriage 12 has a centre part 12a and two end parts 12b, and each such end part 12b presents track wheels 12c adapted to engage and run on the rails 16 of a prepared track. Appropriate means (not shown) are provided for raising or lowering .the wheels 12c thus to ensure proper contact with the ground upon erection of the crane and to facilitate the levelling of the carriage whatever the contour of the ground at the time. The end parts 12b of the carriage are movable relative to the centre part 12a between a first position in which they are aligned with the said centre part and which corresponds to an operative relative disposition of parts and a second position in which they are arranged at right angles to the said centre part, this latter arrangement corresponding to an inoperative relative disposition of parts.

A pillar section 13 is firmly and permanently secured to each centre part :the fixed pillar section being of slightly greater height than the remaining sections. In the first position (see FIG. 8) the track wheels are aligned for engagement with rail tracks extending longitudinally of the bogie whilst in the said second position (see FIG. 9) the said wheels are at right angles to such tracks. A mechanical or other means 17 is provided at each end of the centre part 12a of the bogie, each such means being coupled to the adjacent end part 12b and being arranged to effect a movement of the appropriate end part between the first and second positions. In an alternative arrangement the end parts are removable from the centre part to facilitate the adjustment thereof relative to the centre part and jacks are provided to lift the trade wheels from the ground.

Each pillar section 13, see now FIG. 4, is a triangular form when viewed in plan and is fabricated from tubular elements 13a and channel members 13b, 13b. The other tubular elements 13a of each section is formed with a coupling plate 18 arranged to receive a corresponding structure on the next higher section and to facilitate the securing together of successive sections as the pillars are built up. Rack teeth or rack members 130 are provided in the channel members 1317, the said rack members receiving pinions 19 of the hoist means 15 (and for a purpose as hereafter to be made apparent) into engagement therewith. The channel members 13b are moved through 90 relative to the members 13b as is clearly apparent in the drawings. A ladder section 13a is provided at the inher surface of the pillar sections the ladder sections of superimposed pillar sections being aligned one with another. The beam 11 is in two parts, the said parts each being supported upon a respective bogie structure 12 and being arranged to be joined together (at their extremities) thus to give a beam of a requisite length. One end of each part has a metal framework 11a applied thereto, the said framework being arranged at that end of the beam adjacent the respective bogie structure and supporting the hoist means 15 before referred to. The beam 11 is triangular when viewed in transverse cross section and presents a downwardly directed I-beam 11a upon which the lifting tackle 11b is supported and along which it is movable. A flooring (not shown) is provided at the upper parts of the beam and a suitable detachable hand rail means 20 extends along the length of such flooring.

A supplementary I-beam 11c is secured to the beam 11, the said supplementary beam receiving a lighter lifting tackle 11d than that to be provided for the remainder of the beam.

As has been stated, a metal framework 11a is provided transversely of each beam, the said framework receiving and supporting the hoist means 15.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6 the framework includes a cross shaft 21 rotatably mounted in bearings 22 firmly secured to the framework and carrying a pinion 23 at the outer end thereof, the said pinion 23 being engageable with the rack elements 130. A suitable power source 24 for effecting rotation of the cross-shafts 21 is provided, and such gearing 25 as is necessary is introduced between the said shaft 21 and the power source 24 and between such shaft and an intermediate shaft 26. We have found it convenient to utilise and underlining, vertical flange mounted motor and to drive the pinions through a doubleworm gear box. The motors at the opposit ends of the beam are synchronised thus to ensure and accurate and level raising or lowering of the beam.

The end of the beam also includes a number of inner and outer guide rollers 27 arranged to run on inner or outer faces of guideways 13b provided on the pillar section so as to prevent the weight of the beam from spreading the pillars and thus allowing the beam to fall.

On the central axis of the beam near each end and at the centre thereof are tubular sockets (not shown) for the stem or support of a horizontally disposed jib (not shown). The jib is equipped with lifting and lowering tackle, at the end. When placed in a socket near an end of the beam, the jib has a sweep around the vertical axis of the pillar or column of 300 or thereabouts. When placed in a socket at the centre of the beam it may be arranged to operate at one side or the other of the beam and in either case has a sweep of about In use, the pillar units or sections 13 are stacked on to the top of the beam 11, the bogies or carriages 12 having been placed on their tracks with the lowermost pillar sections unit 13 engaging the ends of the beam. When the work on the structure being serviced by the crane has reached a suitable height, additional sections 13 are taken from the beam and placed on one each column or pillar and secured thereto, whereafter by means of the hoist meters 15 the beam is lifted from level of the first-mentioned unit to the level of those just added to the pillars, where work can continue in the building up of the structure. This replacement of additional sections is repeated unit by unit, until the final height is reached. In some cases, for example when used in the installation of the aforesaid transformers, it may be necessary to have a maintenance height of the beam as distinct from a working height and for this purpose after the final erection Work is finished, the beam is loW- ered to a suitable position on the column.

In a modification of the invention the bogies or carriages, instead of having sections movable between end and side positions are provided with castoring wheels, or are mounted on trolleys having castoring wheels, so that the crane may be manipulated in any direction to a desired position without being confined to move along a predetermined track.

In a further alternative arrangement the pillar sections are of a slightly different form, and the said sections being rectangular when viewed in plan, the sections being illustrated in FIG. 10 of the accompanying drawings.

It is to be appreciated that bogie or like structures will be provided to facilitate the transporting of the parts to or from the site, the said structures each being arranged to receive and support one half of the beam 11 and its associated bogie structure 12 and also to effect controlled adjustment movements thereof for facilitating the alignment and joining of the two parts.

What we claim is:

1. A crane adapted to be erected in situ comprising a cross beam forming a runway for a lifting tackle, a pair of bogies disposed one at each end of said cross beam, and a plurality of openwork pillar sections adapted to be superimposed one upon another stage-by-stage over each of said bogies to build up end pillars upon which, throughout the full vertical extent thereof as existing from time to time, said beam is slidable and upon which said beam is carried, the beam and each said pillar section including at least one rack portion adapted to be engaged by a cooperating means on the beam, the said cooperating means holding the beam in any selected position throughout the length of the pillars, a driving mechanism associated with the said cooperating means, said driving mech anism being attached to the cross beam and operable to move the beam relative to the pillars.

2. A crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said cooperating means comprises a pinion in engagement with the rack portion.

3. A crane as claimed in claim 1, further including means for fixing the beam in a requisite position vertically of the pillars.

4. A crane as claimed in claim 1, further including guide rollers, and guideways on the pillar sections with which the said rollers engage the guide rollers and guideways being so arranged as to prevent separation of the spaced pillar structures.

5. A crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein each rack portion is secured to the respective pillar section at an outer face thereof, and the cooperating means comprises a pinion in engagement with the rack portion, the crane further including guide rollers, and guideways on the pillar sections with which the said rollers engage the guide rollers and guideways being so arranged as to prevent separation of the spaced pillar structures.

6. A crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein each bogie includes a center part upon which the respective pillar is supported, and end regions arranged one at each extremity thereof, the bogies further including means adapted to move the end regions relative to the center part.

7. A crane adapted to be erected in situ comprising a cross beam forming a runway for a lifting tackle, a pair of bogies disposed one at each end of said cross beam, and a plurality of openwork pillar sections adapted to be superimposed one upon another stage-by-stage over each of said bogies to build up end pillars upon which, throughout the full vertical extent thereof as existing from time to time, said beam is slidable and upon which said beam is carried, the beam and each said pillar section including at least one rack portion adapted to be engaged by a cooperating means on the beam, the said cooperating means holding the beam in any selected position throughout the length of the pillars, a driving mechanism associated with the said cooperating means, said driving mechanism being attached to the cross beam and operable to move the beam relative to the pillars, the rack portion being secured to the pillar sections at an outer face thereof, said rack portion comprising a plurality of spaced parallel rack members extending transversely of a support element.

8. A crane as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said cooperating means comprises a pinion in engagement with the rack portion.

9. A crane as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said support element comprises a channel member from the inner faces of the opposed flanges of which the said rack members extend.

10. A crane adapted to be erected in situ comprising a cross beam forming a runway for a lifting tackle, a pair of bogies disposed one at each end of said cross beam, and a plurality of pillar sections adapted to be superimposed one upon another stage-by-stage over each of said bogies to build up end pillars upon which, throughout the full vertical extent thereof existing from time to time, said beam is slidable and upon which said beam is carried, the beam and each said pillar section including at least one rack portion on each pillar section engage able by a pinion on the beam, the rack portion comprising a plurality of spaced parallel rack members extending transversely of a support element, the said support element comprising a channel member from the inner faces of the opposed flanges of which the said rack members extend, the said cooperating means holding the beam in any selected position throughout the length of the pillars, a driving mechanism associated with the said cooperating means, said driving mechanism including an output shaft to which the pinion is drivingly secured and which mechanism is attached to the cross beam and operable to move the beam relative to the pillars.

11. A crane as claimed in claim 10, further including guide rollers on the beam, and guideways on the pillar sections with which the said rollers engagethe guide rollers and guideways being so arranged as to prevent separation of the spaced pillar structures.

12. A crane as claimed in claim 10, wherein each bogie includes a center part upon which the respective pillar is supported, and end regions arranged one at each extremity thereof, the bogies further including means adapted to move the end regions relative to the center part.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 558,318 6/1957 Belgium. 1,084,473 7/1954 France. 1,243,896 9/1960 France. 1,280,095 11/ 1961 France. 1,142,692 1/1963- Germany. 1,167,500 4/ 1964 Germany.

728,472 1/ 1953 Great Britain.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner.

A. L. LEVINE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CRANE ADAPTED TO BE ERECTED IN SITU COMPRISING A CROSS BEAM FORMING A RUNWAY FOR A LIFTING TACKLE, A PAIR OF BOGIES DISPOSED ONE AT EACH END OF SAID CROSS BEAM, AND A PLURALITY OF OPENWORK PILLAR SECTIONS ADAPTED TO BE SUPERIMPOSED ONE UPON ANOTHER STAGE-BY-STAGE OVER EACH OF SAID BOGIES TO BUILD UP END PILLARS UPON WHICH, THROUGHOUT THE FULL VERTICAL EXTENT THEREOF AS EXISTING FROM TIME TO TIME, SAID BEAM IS SLIDABLE AND UPON WHICH SAID BEAM IS CARRIED, THE BEAM AND EACH SAID PILLAR SECTION INCLUDIONG AT LEAST ONE RACK PORTION ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY A COOPERATING MEANS ON THE BEAM, THE SAID COOPERATING MEANS HOLDING THE BEAM IN ANY SELECTED POSITION THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE PILLARS, A DRIVING MECHANISM ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAID COOPERATING MEANS, SAID DRIVING MECHANISM BEING ATTACHED TO THE CROSS BEAM AND OPERABLE TO MOVE THE BEAM RELATIVE TO THE PILLARS. 